Oregon Medical Board sheds light on cosmetic surgery by Northeast Portland doctor that led to woman's death

For botching an after-hours cosmetic surgery that caused her friend's death, a Northeast Portland physician faces administrative charges and could lose her license.

Soraya Abbassian committed "gross or repeated" negligence while performing the Dec. 15, 2010 surgery, including administering what an autopsy found to be a fatal overdose of local anesthesia, according to a disciplinary complaint issued by the Oregon Medical Board on Thursday.

Although Abbassian told the board the surgery was to remove a lesion, she told her patient's son it was an attempted "tummy tuck" to remove unwanted abdominal fat. In reality, it appeared to be a similar procedure called a panniculectomy, the board found.

Abbassian, a specialist in internal medicine, began the surgery on the woman, who was also an employee, at about 10 p.m. at her clinic at 10373 NE Hancock. After Abbassian administered a local anesthetic, the patient complained of chest pain and trouble breathing, then lost consciousness after a seizure, according to board documents.

Emergency medical personnel arrived, revived the patient and transported her to Portland Adventist Medical Center where she was declared dead four days later.

performed the surgery alone, without adequate backup or a "crash cart" bearing a defibrillator and emergency drugs in case of cardiac arrest

failed to recognize symptoms of the drug overdose, and had no drugs on hand to treat an adverse drug reaction even if she had.

Abbassian's lawyer, Stephen Houze, has declined to comment on the case.

The patient is not named in the board document, which describes her as a close friend and babysitter to Abbassian's young daughter.

The board also accused Abbassian of improperly performing surgeries and prescribing medications for personal friends, and even for herself.

Other violations by Abbassian included administering monthly shots of vitamin B-12 when patients had normal B-12 levels before treatment, and administering steroids without medical justification, the board said.

Abbassian has 21 days to request a hearing before an administrative judge; if she does not, the board has the power to revoke her license and issue a fine.

The board's complaint comes as a grand jury is considering whether to file criminal charges against her for negligent or reckless conduct, court documents show.

For more information on the board's requirements for office-based surgery, see the board's web site.